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Hewlett-Packard (HP), an American multinational information technology company, has opened a new tech-enabled HP LIFE Center in South Africa as part of its commitment to reach 100,000 people across Africa over the next three years through the HP Foundation’s Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs (LIFE) program. The company said the initiative will advance the company’s goals to enable better learning outcomes for 100 million people by 2025 and to enroll a million HP LIFE users between 2016 and 2025, as outlined in the HP 2017 Sustainable Impact Report.

According to a statement released by HP on Sunday, the HP LIFE program offers 30 free, online courses focused on business and information technology skills – from business planning and marketing, to raising capital and design thinking. Currently, HP LIFE has reached 744,000 learners in 200 countries and territories. All that a user needs to access HP LIFE is a computer and internet connection.

“Africa is experiencing rapid urbanisation and digitisation – and it’s essential that people have access to learn skills for the work of tomorrow,” said HP’s Chief Sustainability and Social Impact Officer, Nate Hurst. “This new HP Life Centre provides a launchpad for innovation and opportunity across the continent.”

Hurst, who spoke at the Global Citizen Festival in South Africa on Sunday, said the company believes that education is a human right, and that technology in the classroom is a critical component for a 21st-century education.

The new HP LIFE Center in South Africa was opened on Friday and will create a more formal educational environment. HP’s commitment to train 100,000 learners is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 – which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in (WEF) January, HP Foundation and Youth for Technology Foundation announced a new 3D printing course to be delivered through the HP LIFE platform. 3D printing, according to the statement, is changing the manufacturing industry. This new course is helping individuals to learn how to use 3D printing and create entrepreneurial opportunities.

Since 2013, HP has been a partner of the Global citizen movement, including the just-concluded Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100. Ahead of the festival, HP ran several awareness and engagement building activities to engage customers, employees and the public in acting on pressing global issues.